If I can offer some perspective from an outsider: one thing you guys have to realize is that his is the NFL, and unless you are the NE Patriots, it's very hard to maintain a level of excellence year in and year out, even with the same players. Your expectations for this defense sound a little high, you are expecting them to play at the level they have for awhile, but it's hard to sustain that. Your defense was absolutely dominant the last few years, they had an electrifying energy that was downright scary at times, but you cannot expect that defense to show up year in and year out with no fluctuation. That dominant defense is an energy that comes and goes, that's why the '85 Bears, the '00 Ravens or '08 Steelers don't keep winning championships year after year.
Most teams have a good 1 or 2 year run every 5-10 years, and if they don't win the big one while they are peaking that's it, for another handful of years. Meanwhile, some teams have steady enough coaches/players to always be in the running (Patriots, Steelers, Packers, etc.) and I would put Seattle in that group now as well under Pete Carroll, your defense, and RW.
Regardless of the less than stellar play from the offense right now, I don't think the Seahawks are a team anyone wants to mess with in the playoffs, because the Seahawks are still special enough to pull out enough big plays to win the game, and once you're in the playoffs, it's any given sunday.
Can't wait for Sunday :0190l: